Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Friday that he would invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the European nation despite the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and a former minister on Thursday.
Orban, in a conversation on state radio, accused the ICC of “interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes.” He added that the warrant would likely further inflame tensions.
The #ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister @netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety. pic.twitter.com/uRDoP307uL
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 22, 2024
“We will defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him,” Orbán said.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also criticized the ICC’s warrant as “absurd,” according to the Associated Press.
"Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stand by and support him and the State of Israel, and to invite him to make a diplomatic visit to Hungary," Netanyahu's office confirmed.
Netanyahu responded, "I thank Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the warm support for me and the State of Israel.
"Against the shameful weakness of those who have lined up alongside the outrageous decision against the State of Israel's right to defend itself, Hungary – like our friends in the US – has shown moral clarity and steadfastness on the side of justice and the truth."
European nations react to warrant
Despite Hungary's willingness to accept Netanyahu, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell stressed on Thursday that the ICC ruling applied to all state members of the European Union.
"I take note of the decision of the @IntlCrimCourt to issue arrest warrants for Israel PM Netanyahu, former Minister Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif," he wrote. "These decisions are binding on all States party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States."
I take note of the decision of the @IntlCrimCourt to issue arrest warrants for Israel PM Netanyahu, former Minister Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif. These decisions are binding on all States party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 21, 2024
A number of EU nations have already expressed that they would comply with the warrant.